Vauxhall ASTRA VXR BUYERS GUIDE | Purchase with CAUTION!

A review of ALL the common problems that can occur with the Vauxhall Astra VXR to make sure YOU get the very best car possible.
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[@traceurGeorge]

This channel deserves so many more views, great content, good mix of cars, good production values too. I was initially put off by some of the click baity titles, but the buyers guides are really good. This channel is sure to go far, been a while since I subbed to a channel as quickly as I have done with yours 😂

[@ALs_Autos]

Worked with vx when these were about common for turbos, manifolds, few gearbox dramas especially with 6th gear, 1 way valve from cam cover to throttle body causes oil leaks, cam cover gaskets, stem seals, rust between bumper and 1/4 panels, rear axle bushes, underbonnet fuse box lid leaks water in and causes all sorts of hassle, cim issues for horn not working. Great video lads, subd

[@davidhaygarth648]

Your spot on there !

[@ALs_Autos]

@@davidhaygarth648 owned a few got a nurb currently, but done all these bits and pieces over the last couple of year.. and then some 😄

[@lewisdeanclark4091]

What’s the one way valve from the ca cover issue mate ?? Easy fix?

[@curtisglover7400]

Are the engines itself reliable for a daily I had a diesel before loved it but fancy myself a vxr

[@ALs_Autos]

@curtisglover7400 as long as there well maintained there brilliant. Saw a post on fb yesterday about one with 224k on it maintained by courtenay still going strong

[@elbatemano]

I had one of these back in in 2007, Star Silver colour, but with Piano Black dash. I moved to Italy and took it with me. It did well for a few years, where it was bumped many, many times, keyed, leaned on by all the teenagers, mirror knocked off, spat on, admired, raced by the Carabinieri (at thier request), but it was always respected by the car lovers. Gerbox went at 35k miles. But apart from that it was perfect.. Finally, it developed a misfire when letting off after a service, then at 76k miles, while driving one lunch time on Via Cristoforo Colombo in Rome, the crank blew it's guts everywhere and it rolled to a hault. Had to get it repatriated to UK via Green Flag, where is was taken to Thorney Motorsport and I never saw it again.... I see it's still on MOT and does about 1000 miles a year. I'd love to see it again, it was so much fun. Everyone called it Jodie, after Jodie Marsh as they thought it was chavvy and dirty. Ohh, happy days. I miss that car. If you get the chance to own one, they are good fun!

[@4our6ixkwvmz]

Hang on... Thorney took your car.... And you didn't recover it? Isn't that a lawsuit?

[@elbatemano]

@@4our6ixkwvmz It was at the end of a 5 year lease, over milage, damaged, with a blown engine, so I told the lease company to collect from Thorney. Thorney wanted 6k to replace the engine with a referb, which you couldn't get from Vauxhall at the time. As fortune would have it the lease company went bust and no one chased any payment for that so it was quietly forgotten about. I never found out what happened to it.

[@4our6ixkwvmz]

@@elbatemano I see. Even still if it came to the end of it's lease, would it not have been yours to reclaim if the company went bust?

[@williamegler8771]

T-H-E-I-R

[@elbatemano]

@@williamegler8771 Ah, the eagle-eyed grammar guardian strikes again! Thanks for keeping KZbin linguistically pristine!

[@JohnCollins]

I had a lot of goes in VXR astras when I was a trade plate driver over a decade ago. They're my favourate. Hilarious cars.

[@junes118]

Loved the evolution of the videos especially with the personal touch if this by having the man himself chat about it

[@maxrockatanksy9939]

Love the guide, had my Vxr 4 years, standard when bought it. Now it’s running 340bhp- still on the original rods. Video spot on, car is a classic throwback nothing fancy but really does put a smile on my face. As long as you don’t kick it’s head in within the first few minutes of it starting you might not have the common issues that crop up. My box has done same as the car 117k and not needed a rebuild, gearbox oil does get changed every 10k though. Agree with earlier post, rear anti roll bar is hands down aside from a basic map, the best mod for the car. Planning on forging mine and getting her up to about 400-450bhp

[@chriswalker5582]

Got one of these myself, love it. Wee note, vauxhall claim the nurburgring edition came with 255bhp standard

[@Kieran_OPC]

It probably checked out being the exhaust helps massively with that single 300 cell cat v the double factory cats I've got the Arctic edition chose it over the burg as I wanted to be a little different but still wouldn't mind a burg to sit along side it.. got a clubsport corsa and corsa e sitting with it the now and had the astra over 5 years now🤣

[@chriswalker5582]

@@Kieran_OPC nice collection mate, the burg is the 1 to have of the mk5s id say.

[@Kieran_OPC]

@@chriswalker5582 I use to think that personally but I love my arctic so much haha, at the time I was looking to buy a burg I was going to intentionally take the stripe off it and leave as is🤣

[@johnmusk7007]

Great review i had a brand new arden blue with 19”s way back march 2007 Great memories

[@logmarful]

Doesn't need to be the fastest car in the world to be a keeper Colin. 👌

[@atrothe]

Do they have plastics on the engine like water thermostat housings etc, inlet manifolds and stuff.? I am considering the PJ version.

[@j46ko72]

Good review I’ve bought mine in 2010 it was one year old had gearbox done under warranty at Vauxhall not long after I bought it but not had any other problems I guess mine wasn’t built on a Friday never going to sell it it’s mint

[@thebomber5028]

Yeh had mine two years absolutely no issues whatsoever it's how u maintain them

[@gazking08mx]

Il watch in a bit. Hope it's not another video trying to say how bad they are. Being an owner I know they are good cars if looked after

[@standbanger2]

I'm about to buy one, so looking at some reviews, if I'm being honest most of the fault you tell me to look for can be an issue with most cars out there not just confined to the astra vxr!

[@xrecon18]

I heard Astra VXR engines have a reputation of blowing up? 😳 and more likely than any other engines

[@taza5196]

Had mine 4 years other then the rocket cover seal gasket. It's ran sound as a pound

[@R32-R32]

Still waiting for a golf R32 buyers guide.

[@R36Vader]

maybe mine haha, but im waiting to get a 3.8 forged turbo one put in lol

[@Donovanthegoodthings2]

Im new here , vxr would love a detail , great video cheers

[@swanningabouttheworld4564]

Nice car and buyers guide, do you think these will become a modern classic? And what is the difference between the version in the video and the Vauxhall Astra VXR Artic edition? Thanks

[@danieldavis2895]

Artic has black roof, 19 wheels, nurburgring has the 18 white ats allyoys, remus exhaust from factory and all the nurburgring trim seats graphics door sills etc. I have a burg

[@swanningabouttheworld4564]

@@danieldavis2895 thanks for the reply! Lovely looking cars love the shape off them best looking Astra for sure! Any good as a daily?

[@ScottishCarClan]

I think good examples will certainly be modern classic status. It’s a brutish, to the point hot hatch from an era that will never be allowed to repeat itself again. A shame about some of the common problems but the cars more than make up for it.

[@swanningabouttheworld4564]

@@ScottishCarClan for sure, I think I might invest in one day. Any good as a daily or save her for a weekend rides only?

[@Kieran_OPC]

Arctic specs Olympic white •19 royals factory •Leather upgrade factory •Pan roof was optional only on Arctic •Standard exhaust only on Arctic •Sapphire black grille, mirrors, roof and boot trim factory on arctics •Carbon effect interior trims standard •2009/10 spec bigger mirrors •Black b pillar decals standard •factory tinted privacy glass on rear windows Burg differences Glacier white •Lightweight ats alloys standard •Remus full system standard •Checkered stripe standard •Carbon effect smaller spec mirrors and interior trims standard •Carbon and burg logo effected b pillar decals standard fit Leather with burg logo embroidery as standard fit Factory tinted privacy glass on rear They both got the typical options sheet for the other things these included •Sight and light pack (my arctic has it) •Afl headlights •Parking sensors •Power fold mirrors (rare as hell) •Heated leather •Ids suspension (I've not seen it on a burg) •Pan roof (Arctic only) •keyless entry (believ it was standard after 2008) •cruise control •cd70 navi and cd40 upgrades •climate control (rare as hell) •I believe tinted privacy glass was an option but I've never seen a standard astra vxr with it There's many daft options but that's most of the big ones you got The colours are certainly different I'm sure colin and I will end up having both my arctic and his burg parked along side each other at St mirren morning meet when mines back on the road

[@dancampbell6415]

Currently in the market for one of these and really disappointed so far. All the ones I've been to look at have either had the common issues or are a bit tired cosmetically and don't appear to of been kept well at all. Bear in mind I'm looking at the top end of the price scale too. Hopefully there's a diamond in the rough soon!

[@Kieran_OPC]

Been needing to do my stem seals for 5 years😂 only done 10k in my arctic since I bought it so hasn't been terrible Gearbox was shot when I got it too but usual stuff, need a 3rd rebuild myself given I got a second hand box with some issues noticeable already Clutch bearings away too so be aswell doing it all at once. Lower front lip sags on them time to time, bumpers warp a little too Bolsters are brutal because of the design you can't not rub them Cam covers can sweat as they are plastic with age, mines got issues with that only the last few months now Manifold I'm sure has a wee crack but I forget now never bothered the car so left it for now. Gear linkages are shot on mine aswell Don't care what anyone says tho these things are brilliant and reliable as hell, mines has teething issues I'll rectify for next year but it's a car I'll never sell they're simply brilliant. Mines has some mods now Rear roll bar B14 coilovers Miltek cat back + nevlock precat decat Put 18 snowflakes on it and Michelin supersports as the arctics are standard with 19 ronals The rear roll bar is a serious must on these cars, really helps rotate them in to a corner

[@vauxaholic]

👆 this is pretty bang on

[@dawncatlett8128]

My son loves vxr 2006 and he wants to have one

[@djbigd312]

Bet its handling is second to none

[@nadeemhussain436]

Minted Intro.

[@RavenfluxASMR]

What an intro!

[@Kalus_Saxon]

Ahhhh the M32… also known as the chocolate box as it tends to melt 😂

[@andy110492]

Abit dramatic the bearings fail they dont exactly melt i had one with 80k on the clock and they decided to give up

[@Kalus_Saxon]

@@andy110492 that’s what the mechanic told me they call them

[@andy110492]

@@Kalus_Saxon everyone calls them chocolate boxes but the bearings dont melt, vxr ain't as bad as people make out half the guys have never owned one, one thing thats a pain is constant boost issues i haven't missed sorting that out

[@Kalus_Saxon]

@@andy110492 your just being a nonce… Obviously metal doesn’t melt until 1200+ degrees… The mechanics coined the term chocolate box if you’ve got such a problem with that name I suggest you go speak to all of them and tell them it’s the wrong name as bearings don’t melt like chocolate

[@teexcv]

Going to buy one, shitting it though after reading the comments. Seems a lot of hassle.

[@ScottishCarClan]

You’ll be fine! Just do the checks thoroughly. Best of luck mate

[@ShockinHockin]

The fellow in the vid knows his stuff. Look out for the above issues and look for a good one that if it is tuned has quality parts on it. Iv had mine for 11 years so far and got the standard (ie have not blown it and gone forged) engine build up to 170k miles and it’s still knocking out 320bhp on stage 3 tune. Treat them well and it’s a cracking bit of kit for the money

[@teexcv]

@@ShockinHockin Cheers man. It's arrived today and i fucking love it. It's all standard except for a full miltek exhaust system. 2 Owners, 56k Miles on an 06 plate. Burst out laughing when the seller brought it and test drove it with me in the passenger. Torque steer sent him out the window almost!

[@ShockinHockin]

@@teexcv sounds like a good low miler there chap. Look after it and it will look after you. Top tip for the torque steer. Good tires is a must and be smooth with putting the power on, it will cut that right down then. It’s the sort of car you need to be smooth with otherwise it will bite back. I’d recommend tho with the age to check over your engine cooling hoses. The stock rubber ones are getting a bit past it now at that age.(mines 07) just put a new set on mine as one blew and 4 of them were looking to be right behind it. If it stays stock good for value. If you do play with it hands down the first thing to do is add a white line rear anti roll bar. Transforms the handling and makes it much more planted at super low cost. If I could do the works I’ve done all over again it’s the first thing I’d do I a heartbeat

[@teexcv]

@@ShockinHockin I hope so. Only read negative things so I'm shitting it regarding reliability haha. I'll be honest, I don't know the first thing about the mechanics side to my shame. How would you recommend I take care of it? Take it for a service every 5k miles or so? Thank you so much for this advice! If there more you can tell me I'd appreciate it! you legend. My friend told me to get in intake system, so I think I'll get a roll bar like you said first, then worry about increasing power! I want to try keep it stock as possible cause tbh mate, it seems powerful enough bog standard!

[@Ben-jm8hi]

I feel that people will be saying the same things about the mk7 golf r in 10 years time

[@ScottishCarClan]

Why wait 10 years 😄kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHvZhpuPrMx4fa8

[@mototommy5525]

shit chav cars that always break they melt like chocolate as well

[@asifnoaman8978]

problem is you cant afford one. A low mileage example will ask above £10,000

[@thebomber5028]

Probs coming from a knobhead who's never owned one

[@ArcticVXR1]

You have no idea what your talking about tommy boy

[@mototommy5525]

I own a vxr in good condition arden blue there still shit cars

[@mototommy5525]

@@asifnoaman8978 wouldn't want to spend 10k on a vauxhall 🤣🤣🤣🤣